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TERRA: Bodies & Territories, dancing with BalletX, and the story of Rachel Harris
The month in Philly Dance: June 2025
Camille Bacon-Smith
June brings dance to the outdoors in formal gardens, forests, and the city streets. Indoors, the Performance Garage is jumping, and there are even a couple of freebies in the list. But the big news for June is community. From House dance culture to Flamenco to African dance, to women’s culture, dance this month holds in its outstretched arms the hearts of Philadelphia’s communities.
Aidan Un: You Don’t Have To Go Home, But…
Wednesday, June 4, 7:00pm
Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 North American Street, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Dance Project’s Dance Up Close season of collaborations ends with a special free screening of Aidan Un’s film You Don’t Have to Go Home, But…, a collaboration with dancer Vince Johnson about three dancers against the backdrop of the long-running hip-hop and house dance party Second Sundae. Dance jam follows the film.
BalletX at Longwood Gardens
Thursday, June 5, 7:30pm
Open Air Theatre, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square
After its success with Jennifer Archibald’s Lord of the Flies, BalletX leans in with the choreographer’s Exalt, part of a triple bill that includes Matthew Neenan’s Mapping Out a Sky and Justin Peck’s Become a Mountain.
TERRA: Bodies & Territories
June 13-14 and 20-21, 6:00pm
Sunday, June 15 and 22, 2:00pm
The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia
A multigenerational troupe of women and femmes will take to the forest as the stage for experimental dance choreographer Silvana Cardell’s exploration of women’s relationships with the earth.
West Chester Dance Works: Rachel Harris: One Woman Over the Line
Sunday, June 22, 3:00pm and 6:30pm
Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia
The modern dance company present’s Diane Matthew’s multimedia work using dance, spoken word, and photographs from the Chester County Historical Center. Matthews tells the true story of Rachel Harris—an enslaved person who managed to escape—and how a community member protected her when slaveholder Mort Cunningham followed her to West Chester.
Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company: Chapter 39 with Grit, Grace, and Whimsy
Friday, June 27, 7:30pm
Saturday, June 28, 3:00pm
Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street
AMM & DCO goes into its 39th season with works choreographed by artistic director Anne-Marie Mulgrew, including Quartet for the Living Part 2 and Solo for Four. Mulgrew collaborated with percussionist Dr. Andy Thierauf for the multimedia Improvisation for the Future, which explores the intersection of live music, dance, and visual media projections.
And also
Pasión y Arte: Celebrating 25 Years in Philly
Sunday, June 1, 3:00pm and 7:00pm
Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street
Celebrating 25 years of Flamenco in Philadelphia, with special guests from Spain, cantaora (singer) Maria Lopez, and toque (guitarist) Gabriel Gonzales.
Kulu Mele & Omo Kulu Mele Annual Performance
Saturday, June 7, 7:00pm
Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street
Omo Kulu Mele, the school of African dance and drumming, performs with Kulu Mele. The company also hosts workshops in Cuban and Malian dance.
BalletX Pop-Up
Thursday, June 12, 6:00pm
Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia
BalletX continues its open-air performances with a free pop-up at Dilworth Park’s Arts on Center Stage series.
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